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Eagles coach given derby history lesson

Justin Chadwick

West Coast coach Adam Simpson has felt like a school kid this week as he prepares to make his western derby debut in Sunday's AFL clash with arch rivals Fremantle.

Simpson, who played 306 games for the Kangaroos before becoming an assistant coach at Hawthorn, has spent almost his entire life in Melbourne, meaning his knowledge of the western derbies is limited.

However, his learning has been fast-tracked this week thanks to the various functions he's attended, with the stories from Eagles legend Glen Jakovich sticking out in his mind.

"Jakovich told about 14 stories and they all ended with him kicking a goal or winning a game off his own boot," Simpson said with a laugh.

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"It's been a bit of a history lesson this week.

"I enjoyed the function we had yesterday with the past players and coaches. It was great to hear those stories. I'm hearing them for the first time."

Simpson got his first taste of the derby fun-and-games on Friday when Fremantle hired security guards to freeze out any Eagles scouts during the Dockers' closed training session.

Fremantle implemented the measures after spotting West Coast opposition analyst Tim Gepp at their open training session earlier in the week.

Simpson was amused by the whole situation.

"We didn't send anyone yesterday, so they might have wasted a bit of money on those security guards," Simpson said.

"Geppy went down on Tuesday because it was an open session.

"Probably riding around on his bike with a West Coast jumper on didn't help. But that was an open session. I think teams try to have a look at training, and when it's a closed session and they're told to leave, they leave."

West Coast enter Sunday's clash riding a three-game losing streak, while Fremantle are also struggling at 3-3 following consecutive losses to Sydney and North Melbourne.

The Dockers were touted as premiership fancies at the start of the season, but their top-four hopes could rest on the derby result, especially with tough games against Port Adelaide (away) and Geelong (home) to come in the next fortnight.

Fremantle will be bolstered by the return of goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne and midfielder Michael Barlow, but wingman Stephan Hill has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

The Eagles welcome back defenders Darren Glass and Shannon Hurn, but premiership midfielder Sharrod Wellingham was axed following a quiet fortnight.

"His form wasn't good enough," Simpson said of the former Magpie.

"He took it pretty well. Obviously he'd be disappointed to miss out on a big game. But at the same time you've got to earn your spot."